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Turning up the Heat on Paterson
August 18th, 2009

Sen. Bill Perkins and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky are turning up the heat on Gov. David Paterson in an effort to get him to sign a bill into law that would reform the way public authorities do business.  Brodsky and Perkins are set to release a letter sent from the governor’s counsel to the Assembly staff detailing Paterson’s complaints about the bill along with the letter they sent in response. Brodsky said the response basically said, “Those changes would gut the bill.”

We will have the letters shortly.

State authorities are supposed to be independent bodies but are known for being controlled by lobbyists and politicians. Rather than serving the public good they have become abused and corrupt.

The reform bill has bipartisan support and has been trumpeted as one of the good things the Senate managed to pass this year. But Paterson has faced a lot of public pressure from Mayor Michael Bloomberg to veto the bill and he is is reportedly considering doing just that.

Both legislators say Paterson will only come out worse for wear if he stands against the bill. “The longer he drags this out the more bruised he will be and why would he want to be bruised when he could be praised?” asked Perkins.

Perkins said that he is offended that Paterson is not rushing to sign the bill and says Paterson is simply caving under pressure from Bloomberg.

“It was his baby that I had the opportunity to help birth,” continued Perkins who holds the seat Paterson vacated . “He is now turning his back on the baby he helped bring into this world. The mayor has put significant pressure on the governor for more political reasons than substantive. There is too much at a stake here to be coy.”

Brodsky said that Bloomberg’s opposition to the bill is “about power” and said  Bloomberg specifically objects to a provision of the bill that would make lobbying of authorities public.

“He wants to be the next Bob Moses,” said Perkins comparing Bloomberg to the man who used  state authorities to build massive highway projects. “Bob Moses had the same problems  with dictatorship,” said Perkins. “The mayor does things and he doesn’t want to be  held accountable. It is emblematic of his style.”

By David King on August 18, 2009, 1:17 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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